Chapter 13: The Friend Who Knew Everything
The photograph stayed on the table between us.
I couldn’t look away.
The person standing beside Michael wasn’t a stranger.
It wasn’t someone hiding in the shadows.
It was someone who had held my hand when my mother died.
Someone who had sat beside my family at every holiday dinner.
Someone who knew every detail of my life.
I whispered the name.
“Victoria.””
My father closed his eyes.
Hearing it from me seemed to confirm something he had spent years trying to deny.
“Yes.””
The room felt smaller.
Victoria Hale.
My mother’s best friend.
The woman who used to tell me I was like a daughter to her.
The woman who knew my fears.
My weaknesses.
My dreams.
She knew everything.
Alexander picked up the photograph.
“How long?””
My father looked at him.
“I don’t know.””
“You don’t know?””
My father’s face tightened.
“I suspected something after your mother passed.””
“Suspected?””
I turned toward him.
“You let me stay close to someone who might have been betraying us?””
His expression broke.
“I thought I was wrong.””
That answer hurt.
Because I understood it.
People don’t want to believe the people they love can hurt them.
But reality doesn’t care what we want.
“What did she want?”” I asked.
My father looked at the documents.
“Your mother’s trust.””
I shook my head.
“Why?””
“She believed she deserved control.””
Alexander looked through the files.
“She was never named as a beneficiary.””
“No.””
My father pointed at the papers.
“But she was your mother’s closest advisor. She knew how everything worked.””
I remembered.
Victoria always knew where everything was.
She knew which documents existed.
Which lawyers handled our family matters.
Which accounts were protected.
She had been standing next to the door the entire time.
Waiting.
Learning.
“She used Michael,” I said.
My father nodded.
“Michael was desperate when he met her.””
I looked up.
“What?””
“She knew about his financial problems.””
Alexander’s expression darkened.
“She found him.””
My father nodded.
“She convinced him Olivia was the answer.””
My stomach turned.
Not because I was surprised.
Because some part of me already knew.
Michael didn’t accidentally find me.
He was guided toward me.
Victoria created the path.
“She told him who I was.””
My father looked away.
“Yes.””
The silence afterward was unbearable.
Eight years of memories suddenly looked different.
The first date.
The sudden interest.
The way Michael always asked about my family.
I had thought he was curious.
He was collecting information.
A sound came from outside.
Everyone froze.
Alexander immediately turned toward the door.
“Did you bring anyone?””
My father shook his head.
“No.””
The lights flickered.
Then the front door handle moved.
My heart raced.
Someone was trying to enter.
Ryan’s voice came through Alexander’s phone.
“We have a problem.””
Alexander answered.
“What happened?””
“Victoria knows we found the files.””
My blood ran cold.
“How?””
Nobody answered.
Then the door opened.
Not forced.
Not broken.
Opened with a key.
And Victoria walked inside.
She looked exactly as she always had.
Elegant.
Calm.
Almost kind.
“Olivia.””
My entire body went still.
She looked at me sadly.
“I hoped it wouldn’t come to this.””
Alexander stepped in front of me.
Victoria smiled faintly.
“Still protecting her.””
James appeared behind Alexander.
“And you’re still pretending.””
Victoria looked at them.
Then at me.
“You all think I’m the villain.””
I said nothing.
She walked closer.
“I was the only person who understood your mother.””
My voice was quiet.
“You betrayed her.””
Her expression changed.
“No.””
She looked at the photograph.
“I finished what she started.””
Everyone froze.
“What does that mean?”” I asked.
Victoria smiled sadly.
“Your mother knew the family needed a stronger leader.””
Alexander frowned.
“She chose Olivia.””
Victoria looked at me.
“She chose you.””
My heart tightened.
“Then why?””
“Because she knew you were too soft.””
The words hurt.
Not because they were cruel.
Because they were exactly what Michael had used against me.
Victoria continued.
“She knew someone had to take control when the time came.””
I stared at her.
“And you decided that someone should be you.””
Her smile disappeared.
“I deserved it.””
The room went silent.
Finally, the truth.
Not love.
Not protection.
Entitlement.
Victoria looked at me.
“Your mother built everything. I helped her. I sacrificed for her. But when she died, she left everything to you.””
I shook my head.
“So you destroyed my life?””
“I gave you a chance.””
I stared.
“A chance?””
“To become stronger.””
I almost laughed.
“You ruined my marriage.””
“No.””
Victoria stepped closer.
“Michael did that himself.””
The worst part was...
she believed it.
She truly believed she was innocent.
Then she reached into her purse.
And pulled out a document.
“I came here because I wanted to give you one final choice.””
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“What choice?””
Victoria looked directly at me.
“Take control of everything.””
May you like
She placed the document on the table.
“Or lose it all.””
